“It is still very early stages, but there is interest from many German second-division clubs,” Lillejord told Express this week, “and also from the bottom half of the Bundesliga and from England.”

The Express story names only FC St. Pauli specifically as a club with interest in Finne. Geissblog.Koeln says VfL Bochum has interest in acquiring the striker. Wherever Finne lands, it’ll likely be because it’s the best opportunity for him to start playing regularly again.

“Together we will decide what is best for Bard,” says Lillejord. “It is particularly important that he now gets match practice.”

As for the 1. FC Köln’s outlook for Finne, Jörg Schmadtke has yet to rule out either a loan or a straight sale, committing only to assuring the club will not impede Finne from finding a better place for his career development.